Despite their infrequent communications, they did form a bond that would outlive them, and their descendants kept in touch deep into the nineteenth century. Their communications became an invaluable resource for the author as he worked to recreate the story of the woman who became known as the unredeemed captive. John Putnam Demos is an American author and historian, best known for his work regarding colonial America. He is the descendant of John Putnam Senior, who was related to the Putnam family involved in the Salem witch trials. He has written two books on the trials, one of which - Entertaining Satan - Witchcraft and the Culture of Early New England - won him the prestigious Bancroft Prize.
The Putnam family was one of the strongest influential forces behind the accusations. Author Anastasia Karson, described the Putnam family as “strait-laced and self righteous, the family placed themselves at the forefront of the social and political circles of the village.” They had positions as Village Committeemen, deacons, and church elders (Carlson). Their positions gave them lots of political power, which enabled them to accuse people without being doubted. The family started to abuse their power by accusing the people that they did not get along with (Wallenfeldt).
A few years later the Putnam’s petitioned the town in an effort to obtain political independence for the village, and the Porters opposed them. The arrival of Reverend Parris intensified the Putnam-Porter conflict. I think the two families accurately symbolize and correlate with the division between Salem Village and Salem Town. Joseph Putman who arrived in Salem in the Early 1640’s was a large land owner. As his family continued to expand, the Putman land was broken up into smaller and smaller tracts.
Mr. Putnam clearly wants the town of Salem to be clear of witches. This is evident when he presses Reverend Parris to recognize witchcraft so a witch hunt may commence. After all, he believes that a witch has put him through the hell of losing seven children. With his own daughter acting strangely now, Mr. Putnam would indubitably wish that the town kill any and all witches in fear that he may lose another child. Per contra, many in the town know my client for his greed and thirst for land.
She is another victim to the witch trial investigations and got accused by Mrs. Ann Putnam, the wife of Thomas Putnam. Mrs. Putnam accused Rebecca out of jealousy and believed that she is responsible for the death of her seven infant children; which led her to accused Rebecca being a witch. Mrs. Putnam is jealous of Rebecca, seeing that Rebecca had many successful labor, while many of her had been unsuccessful. Proctor saw her when Deputy Governor Danforth, the main judge in the witchcraft trials, brought her in. Danforth brought her in hopes of getting Rebecca to confess like Proctor; however his plan backfired on him.
Thomas Putnam is a greedy man who is bitter and use to getting his own way, which motivates him to falsely accuse his neighbors of witchcraft. He is a rich man who can afford to buy any land forfeited by a witch. To him the, Salem witchcraft trials, is an opportunity to get rid of his neighbors and take land away from them. He does this to a man named George
Thomas Putnam 's loss of inheritance and authority instigates his desire to punish fellow community members. Putnam reveals himself as a "man with many grievances" (13) and shows that his "vindictive nature was demonstrated long before witchcraft began" (14). Prior to the witchcraft trials, Putnam experiences multiple personal conflicts that created a fiery desire for vengeance. These conflicts include the community failing to recognize his land inheritance and selecting Parris as minister over his brother-in-law. Although the alleged perpetrators in these events had little involvement in his diminished stature, Putnam concludes that "his own name and the honor of this family had been smirched by the village", which caused him to "right matters
Boer and Nissenbaum believed that he could be one of what caused the witch trials because he was given wealth by Thomas Putnam, his father, who did not give any to his children from the first marriage after he had died. This caused resentment by Thomas Putnam Jr. and his siblings towards Joseph Putnam and his mother. Reverend Parris is partly to blame for this mass hysteria. His role as a minister was greatly debated as the whole village split into two factions that were the Pro-Parris and Anti-Parris.
Mr. Putnam started to participate in the accusations of witchery in Salem. He did this so that he could purchase land and property of the accused.
He views himself as a righteous man, acting in the name of God to cleanse the community of supposed witches. Putnam's strong belief in religious authority blinds him to the potential for manipulation and corruption within the
One of the most powerful families in Salem was the Putnam family, and because of their puritan beliefs, they strongly supported and believed in the Trials. Over 50 people were directly or indirectly accused by members of the Putnam family. Throughout the course of the Trials, many families fought against the Putnam family to try and end the witch hunt and one of these families was the Burrows family. The feud between the Burrows family and the Putnam family began when George Burrows accepted the job as minister for the town because he wanted to bring Salem town and Salem village together. John Putnam believed that he could influence Burrows into preaching against witches but as tensions grew from the possibility of a merger with the neighboring town, Burroughs decided to leave his job and abandon the project completely.
Putnam claims that “There is a murdering witch among us, bound to keep herself in the dark. Let your enemies make of it what they will, you cannot blink it more” (16). Putnam is yet another powerful male figure in Salem Betty has taken a grip over in the town. He, in this quote, truly believes that the devil is among the town of Salem based on Betty’s current condition. Reverend Hale, encouraging Tituba to give more names of witches, tells her to look at Betty’s “god- given innocence; her soul is so tender; we must protect her; Tituba; the Devil is out and preying on her like a beast upon the flesh of a pure lamb.
AMS-1A Summative Essay #2 In 1776, fifty-six delegates from thirteen colonies of the United States signed the Declaration of Independence, establishing the United States of America. Along with it came the constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the preamble. Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the country and later served as the third president of the United States was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.
She is accused of witchcraft for the murdering of Ann Putnam’s seven children. Rebecca Nurse is a very religious, reasonable, and caring women, who I can relate to based on my life. Rebecca Nurse is a religious woman in The Crucible and I am in life as well. In The Crucible, many people are accused of witchcraft and are put on trial to be hung. If the convicted admit to their witch actions, a sentence to jail, as well as a fine would be charged upon them.
This moment shows the Putnams large role in the blaming of witchcraft because after they ask about a name people respond with those exact names although the blaming wasn’t real. Another person who contributed to the witchcraft hysteria is Reverend Parris. Samuel Parris was quick to blame and quick to make bad remarks about people he didn’t like. Most of all Parris wants to keep up his reputation so if word got out that he niece was acting like a barbarian in the woods he would be shamed upon. In the play Parris says, “If you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.”
